Perhaps, It All Began Here
Lawrence gazed at the massive mountain drawing ever closer, his mind drifting back to that tragic moment when the Montemer family had crumbled after a single battle. He had asked again and again, unable to believe it.
"Damn it! How many times do I have to tell you? Your father! Your brothers and sisters! They're all dead!"
"Ask one more time, and I'll starve you for a week, you hear!?"
They had treated him like trash, but they never abandoned him. No, after witnessing his father's attitude this time, he vaguely sensed something. The resentment hadn't changed.
'Maybe Father sent me away hoping I'd succeed in my artifact research and return.'
That was when it started. The Montemer family torn to shreds, the continent's overlords carving up the spoils, and even the way they treated Lawrence himself shifted. Those who had at least not crossed certain lines turned into monsters, starting to lay hands on him.
'Where did it all begin...?'
Lawrence pondered endlessly. There had to be a clear starting point for everything. Tracing back, back, his thoughts reached even Loria's death.
'If my sister hadn't died here, history might have changed.'
If Loria hadn't perished in this subjugation battle. If the family had remained intact, treating him a bit better while he continued his research. If... the family hadn't been wiped out before he succeeded in artifact creation, forcing his regression...
Could he have ever earned the family's recognition?
Thoughts like that demanded action.
"Lawrence! Time to eat!"
"Huh? Oh, sure."
"What're you thinking so hard about? Another weird idea?"
"Just pondering how to grill meat even tastier."
"......"
Rachel's warning not to mess around with food flashed in his mind. How was she doing now?
As he humored the munching Loria, Freya the captain sat beside him and spoke up.
"Young master, eat plenty. We'll arrive tomorrow."
"Has the messenger bird made it?"
"If there were no issues, it should arrive today."
Please, no problems.
Chomp. Lawrence tore into a big hunk of meat as he thought.
"Mmm, nothing beats meat. Right, sis?"
"Eat like that and you'll get fat."
"Heh, can't help it."
"Sigh... A total lunatic came out of our family. Anyway, there is a bad vibe. Guess you're right."
"Mm."
It was a pleasant mealtime, but they all sensed it. This feast might be their last relaxed one. They were heading into an undead den with a small force—undead that didn't die easily.
But Lawrence knew. There might be injuries here, but no deaths. And the northern monster would surely arrive.
'The Grand Duke loses it at undead and black mages.'
His own son was among their victims. If they just stalled appropriately, he'd clean it up himself. All Lawrence had to do was snatch the holy grail in the meantime.
And so, the last night before entering the mine passed.
#2
The man gazing out at the snowy expanse turned. An approaching subordinate handed him something—a small note. The man took it.
"This real?"
"Straight from Montemer. Reliable info."
"Heh... These mongrels dare invade deep into imperial territory?"
"What shall we do?"
The man donned a fur-lined cloak. His writhing, massive muscles plainly proved his fearsome physical might.
"I'll go alone. Guard the house."
"At least take one with you."
"No. Takes too long to prep. Ready the horse."
"Understood."
The man hated repeating himself. In the north, by the second utterance, allies' heads often flew.
In winter, wolves, yeti, barbarians, and frozen skeletons rampaged. Dealing with them left no time for second commands.
So he favored action over words.
People called this man the King of the North, the North Duke.
Bang!
He flung open the door and eyed his snoring son.
"How's his condition?"
"No improvement."
"Mm..."
He closed the door silently and headed to the source of the news. With his only son wasting away like that...
He needed to vent his rage, so he spurred his horse south at full gallop.
'Mining village, huh. Close by.'
"Open the gates—!"
Rumble!
At the Grand Duke's roar, soldiers reacted.
"Whoa! Open 'em quick!"
"Hey, the walls are gonna fly again!"
"We gotta win this time. Move it!"
Clang, clang!
The gates began opening. They sweated as they cranked them.
A normal lord would wait. But the North Duke was no normal man.
"Go—!! Too slow, you bastards—!!"
Boom!
A flash, and the gates exploded. The crumpled iron clanged across the ground.
Overwhelmed by sheer power, the soldiers despaired once more.
"Arghhh—! Lost again!?"
"Grand Duke! How many times is this!?"
"Wait nicely for once, please!!"
Hahaha!
His booming laugh shook the snowfields. The soldiers' wails, the biting wind, numb hands—none improved his mood.
"Hoo... I'll chew those bastards up."
His jovial face twisted into demonic fury.
#3 [Mining Village, Hogen].
A massive mine nestled between twin peaks—a vital hub en route to the northern front. Detours were possible, but monsters swarmed the mountains. Normally teeming with guards, mercenaries, and miners, but...
[Uuuoooh...]
[Ooooh...]
"As expected, an undead nest."
"We'll bombard the whole village with magic."
The place crawled with undead. No survivors left.
Lawrence pictured it in his mind.
'If memory serves...'
The holy grail was underground in the village chief's house.
"They'd guarded that spot for generations."
"Tsk tsk. That's why they got hit. Poor bastards. Cost the North Duke his reputation too."
Bits of info he'd overheard. To act on them, going solo was best. Prep was perfect. Handling strong undead fell to Freya and the Grand Duke.
Five artifacts wouldn't suffice. But he had plenty—not infinite mana, but numbers.
"I'll head in first."
"What!? Hey! Are you insane!?"
"Captain Freya, follow the plan."
"But young master—!"
Swoosh!
Warrior's Movement propelled him forward. No one predicted it, so none could stop him. Loria clapped a hand over her mouth in shock; Freya paled.
If anything happened to the young master here...
"A-All units! Charge! Begin chanting!"
"Y-Yes!"
Crackle!
Mages prepared village-wide strikes. Soldiers formed ranks, advancing slowly.
[Uuuooohhh!]
Undead sensed mana, turning. Creak, crick—like broken wind-up dolls, rotten eyes gleaming.
Mages chanted undeterred.
Whoosh!
Phoenix Mage Corps' flames scorched the area.
Loria cast differently—not offense, but defense.
"—Blessing of mana, grant me strength! Strength!"
"—Flames of conflagration, burn the foe. Fireball!"
Boom!
A massive fireball erupted. Buffs empowered the soldiers.
Battle was joined.
Meanwhile, Lawrence plunged alone into undead hordes. Transformed villagers shambling after him, creaking.
He pulled out his precious sacred meat without hesitation.
"This ain't meat—it's your purification."
Splat!
The undead's body melted on impact.
Lawrence's adult-level strength, boosted by Dragon Body and Warrior's Movement, outmatched common undead.
◈ Manifestation: Healing
◈ Uses: 14/15
He'd brought iron weapons too, of course. But as last resort, self-defense.
"Fire Arrow."
Fwoosh!
1st circle magic incinerated low undead from villagers instantly.
Faster, faster. He swung the bone, feet dancing.
Boom!
Explosion at the entrance. Crimson flames soared; undead swarmed there.
The controllers were probably in the mine.
"They first thought the grail was deep in the mine, searched there. Wasn't. Turned out in the rickety chief's house."
"Who misses that?"
"Hidden tight. Who'd guess a secret passage in the shit pit?"
"Some pissed-off guy blew the house sky-high, revealed it."
"Ugh, hate going in but..."
What choice? Better than summoning a Death Knight. Had to move before they heard the commotion and emerged.
'There it is.'
Village center. Hill overlooking mine and village: a dilapidated house.
Yes. Hill, so dug underneath for space. Perfect terrain.
Lawrence observed from cover. Swept once? Wreckage and undead noises inside. Secret passage undiscovered, it seemed.
He crept to the manure dump.
"Hah... Rather fight undead."
He'd made it for this. Deactivated Fire Arrow artifact, stowed it. Implanted a new one.
Fancy-Spouted Teapot
Manifestation: Clean
Uses: 5
Simultaneous: 1
Implant: Possible
"Hooo... Alright, let's go."
Magic to cleanse bodily filth and grime. Gritting teeth, he touched the pit.
Negative Energy
Absorbing negative energy residue from the filth.
Don't absorb that!
Swallowing tears, he groped until grasping a ring.
Crunch.
Something shifted; filth poured inward. A descending staircase appeared.